Mounting device



Nov. 18, 1952 w. E. MAI-IAFFAY MOUNTING DEVICE Filed June 2. 1950 39 PM Q).-

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 MOUNTING DEVICE William -E. 'Mahaflay, Evansville, In'd., 'assignor to- International Harvester Company, a corporation ofJNew Jersey Application June 2, 1950, Serial No.,165,654

'7 Claims. 1

This invention relatesi'generally. to refrigerating apparatus "and more particularly to household refrigerator cabinets.

Conventional household refrigerators are usually provided'with a temperature control for automatically controlling the operation of the compressor-condenser-evaporator refrigerating system in order to maintain a predetermined temperature within the food storage compartment. The control isusually provided with a control knob which'is manually set bythe operator and which determines thetemperature at which thefood compartment willbe maintained. The temperature control should be positioned with the control knob within easy reach of the operator. 7

It is therefore an "object of the present inven tion to provide means forsecuring a temperature control'to a breakerstripmember of a refrigera-.

torjcabinet, so that it willjbe in easy reach of the operator when'thedoor iszopen and. covered and protected when the door is closed.

Another'object of the invention is to provid'e'a refrigerator with a breaker .strip member having an openingformedthereinin which a tempera-.

structure,. cheap to manufacture, and easy to assemble.

Further objects and advantagesof. the present invention will 'be apparent from v the following description, reference -.being had to the accompanying. drawing, wherein -apreferred embodir ment of the present invention is clearly shown In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 isa frontelevationalview of .a household refrigerator having theudoor in open position.

Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the breaker. strip with the temperature controlknob removed. I

Fig. 3 is across-sectional. view-taken on line 3-.-3 .of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket, temperature controlwithout the-control knob, and a portion of the breaker :stripand snap ring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a

refrigerator cabinet is generally designated by reference figure It having an outer-shell :l 1' with an innerliner IZ-spacedinwardlyt therein'with insulating material l3 therebetween. The walls of theinnerliner definea food storagecompartment l4 having an evaporator l5 and shelves 16 mounted therein. An access opening is provided in the front walls of the inner liner and outer shell and a, door I! for closing and sealingaround this opening is hinged to the cabinet. The cabinet is provided with a compressor-condenserevaporator refrigerator system, but since it is not a part. of the present invention itvis not shown in the drawings.

The outer shell [I and inner liner l2 are provided with bent in edgeportionsvor flanges l8 and I9 respectively which extend around the periphery .of the door opening. Top breaker strip ,Zll, bottom breaker strip 2| and side breaker strips.

22 and23 bridge across flanges i3 and [9. These breaker strips are constructed from a low heat conductivity. material and serve to prevent the transfer of heat between the outershell H; and inner liner [2 and also to give a finished appearance to the cabinet front The upper breaker strip 20 is'iormed-to have an outer edge 24 which fits under flange l8 and, an inner edge, 25 which fits against flangelil.v

Spring clips or any other suitable'means may be usedfor-holding the breaker strip in place. The

upper brea'kerstrip is also formed to have a,

circular hole .26 therethrough with a circular projection 21 and an inturned circular edge or flange 28'. Two slots .29 are diametrically par.-

ranged in theinturned circular. flange 28 into which the bracket 130.:wil1 be. secured as herein-.

after disclosed.

The bracket .30 isgenerally -U.-shaped having two legs 3| joined by a .connecting.por:tion.32-.,

Each-leg has a bent-in portion 33,3, straight portion diqand an .inclined end portion or tab .34.

The bracket is positioned with the bent-in portions 33 abutting flange 28, the straight portions 42 extending through slots 29 and'the inclined end portions extending-at-an angleto flange 28. A circular shaped .wire spring or'snap ring 35' iswpositioned-between the inclined end por-. tions 34 andflange 28. This snap ring is constructed to have spaced apart ends 31 and 38' to allow deflections of the ring. Inthe assem.

bled position the snap ring is deflected to'have a smaller diameter than in its free position and since it will seek to assume its free position, it will bear outwardly against straight portions 42 and be held in place between the inclined end portions 34 and flange 28. The bent-in portions 33 bearagainst the rear side of flange 2B and: the inclined end portions -34 bearagainstthesnap ring 35 which in turn bear against the front side of flange 28, thus forming a clamping arrangement which securely holds the legs 3| of bracket 39 to the breaker strip.

A temperature control casing is indicated generally by reference numeral 39 which is secured to connecting portion 32 by screws or any other suitable means. Details of the temperature control are not a part of the present invention and are not shown, but generally it comprises an electrical switch connected in series with the compressor for starting and stopping the compressor. The switch is controlled by thermostatic means responsive to the temperature within the food compartment 14. Protruding from casing 39 between bracket legs 3| is a shaft 40. Upon rotation of this shaft, the thermostatic means will be adjusted so as to change the temperature at which the food storage compartment will be automatically maintained by the temperature control. A knob 4| having a circular dial fitting in hole 26 is secured to the shaft 40. The dial has suitable markings thereon which indicate the proper position required for the desired temperature in the food storage compartment. This knob is in easy reach of the operator when the door is open, and can be manually set for the desired temperature.

In securing the temperature control in the cabinet, the casing 39 and bracket 30 are secured together and placed into a pocket provided in the insulating material [3. The top breaker strip 20 is then positioned and secured in place with straight portions 42 extending through slots 29. The snap ring 35 is then compressed and inserted between the inclined end portions 34 and flange 28. When the snap ring 35 is released it will spring out against the straight portions 42 between the inclined end portions 34 and flange 28, thus securing the bracket 39 and temperature control 39 in place.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that a simple and easily assembled structure is provided for attaching the temperature control to the breaker strip in accordance with the objects of the invention. The operating knob is in easy reach of the operator when the door is open, and it blends in with the breaker strip to give a neat appearance. When the door is shut, the operating knob is covered and prol.

tected. If any servicing should be required the breaker strip can be easily removed to allow access to the temperature control.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design of the respective parts and their arrangement and method of assembling may be made without departing from the realm or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a mounting device for attaching a temperature control to a breaker strip of a refrigerator cabinet, said breaker strip having a circular opening therethrough and slots diametrically arranged in the edge of said circular opening, a bracket having spaced apart legs which extend through said slots and terminate in inclined end portions, and a snap ring positioned between said inclined end portions and said breaker strip, said temperature control being secured to said bracket with a control knob positioned in said circular opening.

2. In a mounting device for removably attaching an electric switch and the like to a support member having spaced apart slots therethrough, a bracket to which the electric switch is secured, said bracket having spaced apart legs which extend through said slots and terminate in bent-in end portions, a snap ring for securing said bracket in place, said snap ring positioned between said end portions and said support member.

3. In a mounting device for removably attaching an electric switch and the like to a support member having spaced apart slots therethrough, a bracket to which said electric switch is secured, said bracket having spaced apart legs, each leg having a bent-in portion and a straight portion and an inclined portion, said bent-in portions positioned to abut one side of said support member, said straight portions extending through said slots, said inclined portions disposed on the other side of said support member at an angle thereto, and a snap ring for securing said bracket in place, said snap ring being positioned between said inclined portions and said support member.

4. In a mounting device for removably attaching an electric switch and the like to a support member having an opening therethrough with spaced apart slots in the edges thereof, a bracket to which said electric switch is secured having spaced apart legs, each leg having a bent-in portion and a straight portion and an inwardly inclined portion, said bent-in portions positioned to abut one side of said support member, said straight portions extending through said slots, said inclined portions disposed on the other side of said support member, and means for securing said bracket to said support member, said means comprising a resilient member which fits between said inclined portions and said support member and bears outwardly toward said straight portions.

5. In a mounting device for removably attaching an electric switch and the like to a support member having an opening therethrough with slots spaced around the edge of said opening, a bracket to which said electric switch is secured having spaced apart legs, each leg having a bentin portion and a straight portion and an inclined portion, said bent-in portion abutting one side of said supporting member, said straight portion extending through one of said slots, said inclined portion being disposed on the other side of said support member and extending toward said opening, and means for securing said bracket to said support member, said means comprising a circular spring which is positioned between said support member and said bent-in portions and bears outwardly toward said straight portions.

6. In a mounting device for attaching a temperature control to a breaker strip of a refrigerator cabinet, a bracket having spaced apart legs. each leg having a bent-in portion and a straight portion and an inclined portion, said breaker strip having spaced apart slots therethrough said bent-in portions positioned to abut one side of said breaker strip, said straight portions extending through said slots, said inclined end portions disposed on the other side of said breaker strip, and means for securing said bracket to said breaker strip, said means comprising a circular shaped spring, said spring positioned between said inclined end portions and said breaker strip, said temperature control being secured to said bracket.

7. In a mounting device for attaching a temperature control to a breaker strip of a refrigerator cabinet, said breaker strip having a front side 5 and a rear side with circular opening therethrough and slots diametrically arranged in the edge of said circular opening, a bracket positioned between said Walls having spaced apart legs which extend through said slots, each leg having a bent-in portion and an inclined end portion, said bent-in portions positioned to abut the rear side of said breaker strip, said inclined portions disposed at an angle to the front side of said breaker strip, and means for securing said bracket to said breaker strip, said means comprising a circular spring disposed between said breaker strip and said inclined end portions, and temperature control being secured to said bracket with a control knob positioned in said circular opening.

WILLIAM E. MAHAFFAY.

REFERENfiES CK'EED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

